核心畫面

Something is standing up because of what is underneath it. Instead of pushing at the front, you go below and turn that ground over, and the thing comes down on its own. The word keeps that direction in every use: the work is done from beneath, usually slowly, usually out of sight. What changes from sense to sense is only what is standing there — a government, a person's belief, or a pattern an audience is leaning on.

可以想成有個東西之所以站著,是因為底下有一塊地基。你不從正面推,你繞到底下,把那塊地翻過來,它就自己垮了。這個字每個更多收起可以想成有個東西之所以站著,是因為底下有一塊地基。你不從正面推,你繞到底下,把那塊地翻過來,它就自己垮了。這個字每個用法都保留這個方向:動作從底下來,通常慢,通常不擺在檯面上。換來換去的只有「站在上面的是什麼」——可能是一個政權,可能是一個人心裡的信念,也可能是觀眾正靠著的一套套路。

From the word’s history

The source gives the Latin original subvertō, glossed 'to overthrow', literally 'to underturn, turn from beneath'. The modern verb still moves in that direction, which is why undermining, not confronting, is the feel of every sense on this page.

資料給的拉丁文是 subvertō,意思是「推翻」,字面是「從底下翻過來」。今天的用法還走同一個方向,所以這一頁每個意思給人的感覺都是「從底下掏」,不是「正面對撞」。

packet Wiktionary etymology_text for subvert (etymology 1): 'from Latin subvertō (to overthrow, literally to underturn, turn from beneath)'; kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4

Three branches

翻掉制度與政權

最字面的一組:站在上面的是國家機器或制度,底下被掏,它就撐不住。

verb · C1

To work against a government, a system or a set of rules in order to weaken it and take away its power, often from underneath and often out of sight.

顛覆(政權、制度)

翻掉心裡的信念

把同一個動作搬進一個人心裡:信念撐著一個人,掏掉它,人就站不住。

verb · C1

To turn someone slowly away from what they believe or from the people they are loyal to, until that belief or loyalty is gone.

動搖(信念、忠誠)

翻掉成規與預期

被翻的換成腦中那套習慣的做法:創作者先讓你靠上去,再把它抽走。

verb · C1

To take a custom, a habit, or the usual way a story is told, and turn it over on purpose, so that what people were expecting does not happen.

翻轉(成規、預期)